City Rescinds Ultimatum On Sewer With Arboretum

WHEATON — City officials have dropped a requirement that they receive first-refusal rights on annexation of the Morton Arboretum in exchange for sanitary sewer service.

The city wanted arboretum officials to agree that they would approach Wheaton first, if, in the future, they wanted to incorporate into a municipality. When the request was first brought before the City Council last month, council members asked that the arboretum consider their request.

However, arboretum officials said that autonomy is important to its ability to serve all county residents.

In addition, arboretum officials point out that no other municipality has demanded such restrictions.

The arboretum will pay a fee to construct the needed improvements connecting to the city`s sanitary sewer line, and will pay Wheaton for an average monthly volume of 5,515 cubic feet of sewage. The arboretum also will pay for maintenance from the existing sewer line to the arboretum.

The agreement also gives Wheaton the right to terminate the agreement if the arboretum does, in fact, annex to another municipality.